Frontier Communications was the big winner in the second round of funding in the ConneCTed Communities Grant Program, a Connecticut broadband initiative. The awards, which total $9.9 million, will support build out of broadband to approximately 3,802 residences and businesses in 44 towns and cities. The focus is on MDUs.
The announcement was made by Governor Ned Lamont and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).
To date, the Connecticut broadband grant program has awarded $34 million in awards to support buildouts for 5,582 locations in 116 cities and towns and 30 “distressed” municipalities.
“This latest round of grant awards is supporting the vital work of bringing broadband infrastructure to locations with the greatest needs,” DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes said in the announcement.
“Research shows that 92% of jobs require digital skills and 60% of adults get health information online. This effort is critical. It’s about increasing access to vital elements of daily life, and helping to improve health, safety, affordability, and prosperity for the people of Connecticut.”
Frontier won almost $8.7 million in six awards from the Connecticut broadband grant program:
- Canterbury, Griswold, Killingly, Plainfield, Putnam, Sterling, and Woodstock: 1180 locations, 1,423 units, $1,232,486 in funding
- Enfield, Granby, Somers, and Stafford: 164 locations, 412 units, $624,227 in funding
- Colebrook, Cornwall, Goshen, Litchfield, Morris, Sharon, Torrington, Warren, Watertown, and Winchester: 504 locations, 698 units, $5,076,560 in funding
- New Fairfield, New Milford, Newtown, and Sherman: 105 locations,158 units, $69,805 in funding
- Bridgeport, Darien, Milford, Norwalk, and Stamford: 153 locations, 518 units, $755,971 in funding
- East Haddam, East Lyme, Meriden, and Waterford: 297 locations, 480 units, $919,205 in funding
Comcast was the other winner, with two awards:
- Griswold, Killingly, North Canaan, and Voluntown: 35 locations, 49 units, $762,295.77 (Comcast was given a match waiver for this project)
- Bolton, Burlington, Colchester, East Haddam, East Lyme, Guilford, North Haven, Salem, Sharon, Shelton, Wallingford, and Watertown: 38 locations, 64 units, $540,273.06 in funding
DEEP has approximately $6.7 million remaining in funding through the ConneCTed Communities Program. Separately DEEP is administering $144 million in BEAD funding.
The first round of awards from this Connecticut broadband grant program was made last October for $28 million. Comcast, with grants of $21.26 million across 75 municipalities, was the big winner.
